Waitomo & King Country

Venture underground for amazing adrenaline activities in a remarkable cave network.

Southwest of the manicured Waikato region is a very special place where the hills are a little more rugged and the forest a little more wild – beneath it lies a phenomenal network of caverns and underground rivers. Enter an underground world offering unique adventures, from adrenaline-pumping black-water rafting to floating in a cavern studded with twinkling glow-worms. Beyond Waitomo, explore rolling farmlands, majestic bush-covered hills and rural Kiwiana towns tucked into fertile valleys to find beautiful rose gardens, charming murals and an insider’s view of sheep farming and shearing.

DO IT. Experience black-water rafting at Waitomo Caves, abseil into a cave in Waitomo Forest, gaze up at glowworms in an underground cavern, take a boat trip on the Mokau River, explore the beaches and harbours of the tranquil west coast, sisit the Neil and Tim Finn exhibition at Te Awamutu Museum.

Destinations

Waitomo Village Small village atop an underground cave network.
Otorohanga Kiwiana town featuring a pretty flower-basket-lined main street.
Te Awamutu Rural centre and birthplace of the musically talented Finn brothers.

Getting there and around

Air The nearest airport is Hamilton Airport, approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Waitomo, offering domestic services as well as trans-Tasman flights.
Road Waitomo is located on State Highway 37, off State Highway 3. It is an easy 1-hour, 5-minute drive from Hamilton, or a 2-hour, 50-minute drive from Auckland. With easy-to-navigate roads, this region is ideal for driving. It’s also well served by shuttles and coaches.

Insider's tip

You can’t visit Waitomo without going beneath the surface, whether it’s glow-worm spotting or black-water rafting.

Rafting on the dark side

Even if you’ve tried white-water rafting, put a black-water rafting adventure on your to-do list! The underground rivers for which the Waitomo Caves are named offer the chance to experience high-octane rafting in the darkness of a convoluted cave system.